Lookin to add an all purpose bike to my FS mountain bike and fat bike. Not sure about drop bars. 60 years old. Considering Jamis Coda. And maybe alternatitive bars. Also considering used Salsa Journeyman. Looking to ride gravel and rails to trails. Thanks for any advice.
My first bike was a 2015 Jamis Coda Sport, and I rode it for two and a half years before upgrading to a Salsa Vaya, which is not that far off from the Journeyman. I think the Coda is a nice, inexpensive hybrid bike. I used it primarily on the road, but with a decent amount of dirt fire roads mixed in. I swapped the stock 32mm Vittoria Randonneur tires for Clement (now Donnelly) X'plor USH tires at 700c x 35mm. That's about as much tire as you can get in there, at least on my v-brake version of the bike, so that's something to think about if larger tire options are a priority. The stock rims are also not tubeless compatible.
The Coda is comfortable off road, but definitely not as plush as my Vaya, which has 40mm tubeless tires and can take up to 50mm. My Coda pressures are 55 psi, whereas I run as low as 35 psi on my Vaya. I still use the Coda on occasion, and I still think it's a nice bike to ride. I think the Coda is a better descender on sketchy terrain, not because the brakes are necessarily better, but because the flat bars and body positioning just inspire more confidence than being in the drops on road levers. Maybe I'd feel differently if I dropped the seat post on the Vaya before heading down. But I like everything else better on the Vaya, which I better, given that it was more than three times the price.
Thanks so much. I have a Trex Fuel EX for trails. The Coda with steel frame and hydraulic brakes is very appealing. Not sure if I want/need drop bars. Also considering the Jamis Renegade Expat
Jamis also makes essentially a flat bar steel Renegade called the Sequel. It's got hydro brakes, 10 speed 1x, and tubeless compatible 650b wheels that can take wider rubber. I had also considered the Expat but had trouble with my heels striking the chainstays on it when pedaling.
THanks tofudog415 , I was wondering about the difference between hybrid and gravel. I'm thinking the hybrid is a bit longer slacker and upright (in general) and that is going to make it a little easier to descend on sketchy terrain.
